Yevamot 46&47

One of the most profound perspectives in the teachings of Rav Soloveitchik is his examination, in ‘Kol Dodi Dofek’, of the dual covenantal conversion rituals of milah (circumcision – or to be more precise, the prohibition of being uncircumcised) and tevilah (immersion); how the former expresses a commitment to the covenant of fate (goral) while the latter expresses a commitment to the covenant of destiny (ye’ud), and how the former represents the experience of the Jewish people in Egypt (Pesach), while the latter represents the experience of the Jewish people at Sinai (Shavuot).

Significantly, today’s daf (Yevamot 47b) details what is said to a prospective convert in terms of what it means to be part of the fate of the Jewish people – such as how Jews have been enslaved (eg. in Egypt) and harassed, while it also records what is said to a prospective convert in terms of what it means to be part of the destiny of the Jewish people – such as the Jewish responsibility to observe mitzvot.

Yet, as we are taught by the Sages in yesterday’s daf (Yevamot 46a), ‘one who immersed by did not circumcise’ (which we can explain, according to Rav Soloveitchik, to mean that a prospective convert who is prepared to commit themselves to the covenant of destiny but not to the covenant of fate), or ‘one who circumcised but did not immerse’ (which we can similarly explain to mean that a prospective convert who is prepared to commit themselves to the covenant of fate but not to the covenant of destiny), ‘is not a convert until they both circumcise and immerse’ (i.e is not a fully fledged convert until they make a dual commitment to Jewish fate and Jewish destiny). In fact, this lesson is powerfully captured in the words of Ruth (1:16) that we read on Shavuot and that were cited in today’s daf (Yevamot 47b) where she said to Naomi: עַמֵּךְ עַמִּי – ‘your people are my people’ (i.e. I am committed to the covenant of fate), וֵאלֹהַיִךְ אֱלֹהָי – ‘and your God is my God’ (i.e. I am committed to the covenant of destiny).

Having just celebrated Pesach reflecting our commitment to the covenant of fate, we are now in the process of counting the days towards Shavuot reflecting our commitment to the covenant of destiny. Consequently, this period between Pesach and Shavuot a powerful stretch of time which we should use to help us strengthen what it means to be part of the Jewish people in terms of our shared fate, and what it means to serve God in terms of our shared faith & destiny.